Difference

Another fun "shot from the front" of the happy kids towing me to the finish of this morning's skijor!

Whee - smiles all around :)

We started this morning's outing on single track trails in the backcountry. Along the way, we passed through the Dry Gulch ghost town relics. As we were cruising through the ghost town, something caught Jack & Rudy's attention to our left. When I saw them focusing that way, I looked too. But I failed to see anything - no ghost, moose or anything of interest :)

"We are distracted by something to the left!!!" says the left looking kids
while still running forward.

After some laps in the backcountry, we dropped onto the wide trails of Gold Run Nordic Center. It was a "tale of two trails" at the nordic center. Let me show you what I mean...

We started on the Preston Loop Trail. The groomer had not been on this trail for a couple of days and the surface was super fast packed (almost too packed)!

Sure doesn't look like a groomed nordic trail, huh?
Super fast packed from days of use.

But we then dropped onto the main trail (Peabody Placer) and were thrilled to find the groomer had been out just moments before us! Wheeee!

Ah, fresh corduroys to uncork the skijoring engine!

Today's video highlight shows teamwork from Jack & Rudy on the fast packed trail. Jack & Rudy are great at feeling my caution and release. Come along and watch as the trail gets a bit too slick & steep for my liking for about 10 seconds (point 23-33 seconds in the clip). Jack & Rudy feel my cautious skiing and slow as well. Then, once the trail levels out a bit, I am comfortable easing off the cautious skiing; well Jack & Rudy feel that too and, zoom, off we go! All of this without any verbal commands from me, just skijoring and adjusting speed by feel from my great partners!

[watch on youtube if no video loads below]

As usual at Gold Run, we take a little detour to the Jumbo Overlook. As usual again, my partners are not interested in either the overlook or the historical marker. It is simply a "turnaround, roll around" point to them :)

"If there was moose, we'd take in the scenery but, otherwise we'll
stop, drop and roll while you turnaround!" says the silly snow rolling kids.

Finally back to the trailhead for end of run treats from any snow wall the kids can find to climb:

"We'll climb up to you. Now how about those treats?" asks the happy
and focused kids.

A little fast packed in areas but an otherwise very enjoyable outing in both the backcountry and nordic center: 10.2 miles traveled with 900 feet of elevation climbed and a top speed of 22 MPH.

2023/2024 Season to Date: 52 days on the trails covering 442.2 miles with 42,300 feet of elevation climbed.